Do you think the college system is seriously flawed??

I mean, chosing majors/minors, and finding out to do with them. There should be a plan that fits YOU, not the school your getting a major from (ex. liberal and fine arts, biology, politics, etc.)

Don't get me wrong, my university is huge and has a lot to offer. However, I really get annoyed with choosing certain classes just to reach major/minor upper division classes.

Come to a Greek university and those problems will seem pretty minor to you afterwards... :P

Just read my blog on the first link of my sig and you'll see why....

I just hate how ridiculously expensive it is.

Then again, I am in art school. :|

Tuition is an issue but compared to universities around the world... there's a reason folks come here if they can.

Also getting a good mix of education is a GOOD thing. You're not eating at Burger King.

The main goal of an upper level education is to put out well-educated, well-rounded individuals. This is achieved by educating all fields in a bit of every subject. Earning a degree isn't supposed to be a cake walk, being a pre-med student I see it more than most. I have to learn physics and chemistry (all the way through organic II) both of which I will never use again, it is just how it is.

from my understanding of the American system, it does seem a bit stupid that you have to attend lectures that have nothing to do with what you are studying, and I really don't understand the whole minor/major business. In Britain, the modules are very focusedon the degree subject.

Of course the American college system is flawed. Think about it, you pay $60,000 for an education that could have been got from $300 worth of books. ;) That is the plain truth, and I ask anyone to dispute it. I've been thinking about going to college, but I cannot reconcile that much money for an "education" that I can get by going to the library for free as Ray Bradbury upon countless others have done. You don't need college to get a good education and, in fact, with diligence, you can get an even better education.

There's always the argument that you can't get a "good paying job" without having went to college first, but I contend that life is not always a reward and work, after all, is "work", guys. You can get on track for a decent paying job by applying for an apprenticeship or even by working your way up through a fast-food chain. Managers make a lot of money, and they don't need a degree.

Also, the military is a very good choice. You make $1500 a month upon entry, get free healthcare, free food, free housing, and, if you stay in for 20 years or more, you get excellent retirement. The military isn't for everyone, but it's a very good option.

Of course the American college system is flawed. Think about it, you pay $60,000 for an education that could have been got from $300 worth of books. ;) That is the plain truth, and I ask anyone to dispute it. I've been thinking about going to college, but I cannot reconcile that much money for an "education" that I can get by going to the library for free as Ray Bradbury upon countless others have done. You don't need college to get a good education and, in fact, with diligence, you can get an even better education.

There's always the argument that you can't get a "good paying job" without having went to college first, but I contend that life is not always a reward and work, after all, is "work", guys. You can get on track for a decent paying job by applying for an apprenticeship or even by working your way up through a fast-food chain. Managers make a lot of money, and they don't need a degree.

Also, the military is a very good choice. You make $1500 a month upon entry, get free healthcare, free food, free housing, and, if you stay in for 20 years or more, you get excellent retirement. The military isn't for everyone, but it's a very good option.

VoodooGamer

$60,000? seriously? In Britain it's around £3,400 a year.

$60,000? seriously? In Britain it's around £3,400 a year.

_glatisant_

Yeah, it's really expensive here. Just to go to an affordable junior college costs around $8,000 if you include room and board and books. The cheapest university that I've seen is Wayne State University in Detroit, and it's very expensive. It's about $13,000 per year without room and board and book expenses.

[QUOTE="VoodooGamer"]

Of course the American college system is flawed. Think about it, you pay $60,000 for an education that could have been got from $300 worth of books. ;) That is the plain truth, and I ask anyone to dispute it. I've been thinking about going to college, but I cannot reconcile that much money for an "education" that I can get by going to the library for free as Ray Bradbury upon countless others have done. You don't need college to get a good education and, in fact, with diligence, you can get an even better education.

There's always the argument that you can't get a "good paying job" without having went to college first, but I contend that life is not always a reward and work, after all, is "work", guys. You can get on track for a decent paying job by applying for an apprenticeship or even by working your way up through a fast-food chain. Managers make a lot of money, and they don't need a degree.

Also, the military is a very good choice. You make $1500 a month upon entry, get free healthcare, free food, free housing, and, if you stay in for 20 years or more, you get excellent retirement. The military isn't for everyone, but it's a very good option.

_glatisant_

$60,000? seriously? In Britain it's around £3,400 a year.

[QUOTE="_glatisant_"]

$60,000? seriously? In Britain it's around £3,400 a year.

VoodooGamer

Yeah, it's really expensive here. Just to go to an affordable junior college costs around $8,000 if you include room and board and books. The cheapest university that I've seen is Wayne State University in Detroit, and it's very expensive. It's about $13,000 per year without room and board and book expenses.

Student housing is what kills it, imo. That's why I don't understand the people who live only a few minutes away from school but still say in housing. :|

Hell-my university is relatively top-tier and it's only (pfft..."only") 40K per year.thepwninator

I actually meant $60,000 overall after four years, but wow $40,000 per year? That is just crazy.

[QUOTE="_glatisant_"]

[QUOTE="VoodooGamer"]

Of course the American college system is flawed. Think about it, you pay $60,000 for an education that could have been got from $300 worth of books. ;) That is the plain truth, and I ask anyone to dispute it. I've been thinking about going to college, but I cannot reconcile that much money for an "education" that I can get by going to the library for free as Ray Bradbury upon countless others have done. You don't need college to get a good education and, in fact, with diligence, you can get an even better education.

There's always the argument that you can't get a "good paying job" without having went to college first, but I contend that life is not always a reward and work, after all, is "work", guys. You can get on track for a decent paying job by applying for an apprenticeship or even by working your way up through a fast-food chain. Managers make a lot of money, and they don't need a degree.

Also, the military is a very good choice. You make $1500 a month upon entry, get free healthcare, free food, free housing, and, if you stay in for 20 years or more, you get excellent retirement. The military isn't for everyone, but it's a very good option.

thepwninator

$60,000? seriously? In Britain it's around £3,400 a year.

Looks like someone likes to toot their own horn :P

College is expensive, but so worth it. Learning from books only takes you so far. If you stumble across something you don't understand there is no where to go. And depending on your career, I couldn't apply for a nursing job and say OMG I read the books, give me a job. I have to get my degree in it. (which I hope to get into a program)

I attened a major public university (Texas Tech) and it only costs $8,000/ semester plus books. Harvard is $50,000/year which is about as high as it goes.

Yes. I say we boycott it.

[QUOTE="thepwninator"]

Hell-my university is relatively top-tier and it's only (pfft..."only") 40K per year.VoodooGamer

I actually meant $60,000 overall after four years, but wow $40,000 per year? That is just crazy.

Also getting a good mix of education is a GOOD thing. You're not eating at Burger King.

duxup

I attened a major public university (Texas Tech) and it only costs $8,000/ semester plus books. Harvard is $50,000/year which is about as high as it goes.

Smoke89

[QUOTE="Smoke89"]

I attened a major public university (Texas Tech) and it only costs $8,000/ semester plus books. Harvard is $50,000/year which is about as high as it goes.

thepwninator

I probably don't know them haha, but are you from Texas or are they just random people you know that happen to go here?

[QUOTE="thepwninator"][QUOTE="Smoke89"]

I attened a major public university (Texas Tech) and it only costs $8,000/ semester plus books. Harvard is $50,000/year which is about as high as it goes.

Smoke89

I probably don't know them haha, but are you from Texas or are they just random people you know that happen to go here?

Of course the American college system is flawed. Think about it, you pay $60,000 for an education that could have been got from $300 worth of books. ;) That is the plain truth, and I ask anyone to dispute it. I've been thinking about going to college, but I cannot reconcile that much money for an "education" that I can get by going to the library for free as Ray Bradbury upon countless others have done. VoodooGamer

Its not just a simple matter of education. Yes that matters, but the whole point of paying that much for the education is for the sake of opening doors and opportunities to new careers. The kind that makes decent money. Yes, you can read oh so many physics books or programming books but its gonna be that degree(+ experience in the workplace) thats going to get you places.

Fellow Houstonians-they went to my high school.thepwninator

Small world, I am from Houston as well.

[QUOTE="thepwninator"]

Fellow Houstonians-they went to my high school.Smoke89

Small world, I am from Houston as well.

What part? I'm from northwest Houston. Right between Beltway 8 and 290.thepwninator

Kingwood which is northeast houston(more people know Humble, which is next door to us), right off 59. About 15 min from the intercontinental airport.

[QUOTE="thepwninator"]What part? I'm from northwest Houston. Right between Beltway 8 and 290.Smoke89

Kingwood which is northeast houston(more people know Humble, which is next door to us), right off 59. About 15 min from the intercontinental airport.

[QUOTE="Smoke89"]

[QUOTE="thepwninator"]What part? I'm from northwest Houston. Right between Beltway 8 and 290.thepwninator

Kingwood which is northeast houston(more people know Humble, which is next door to us), right off 59. About 15 min from the intercontinental airport.

Sorry to shatter your hopes and dreams haha.

@TC, I forget the actual quote, but it was along the lines of to fully understand what you love, one must learn to appreciate the subjects he detests.

Tuition is an issue but compared to universities around the world... there's a reason folks come here if they can.

Also getting a good mix of education is a GOOD thing. You're not eating at Burger King.

duxup

Yes, he is, because that's all he can afford after paying high tuition :P!

Its not just a simple matter of education. Yes that matters, but the whole point of paying that much for the education is for the sake of opening doors and opportunities to new careers. The kind that makes decent money. Yes, you can read oh so many physics books or programming books but its gonna be that degree(+ experience in the workplace) thats going to get you places.

doanm

In other words, college offers you the opportunity to get a higher-paying job so that may spend more money and put more money back into the pockets of the wealthy upper-class. That's really all it boils down to. I fail to see the logic in spending a total of $60,000 dollars to get that "special-dream job" that I've wanted all my life, only to make $30,000 a year. Even if I make $200,000 a year, what does that matter? Money, money, money, that's not where happiness comes from, and I don't need a good degree and a high-paying job to bring me happiness. All I need is a decent paying job, which you can get even without a degree, and good people to spend my time with.

[QUOTE="doanm"]

Its not just a simple matter of education. Yes that matters, but the whole point of paying that much for the education is for the sake of opening doors and opportunities to new careers. The kind that makes decent money. Yes, you can read oh so many physics books or programming books but its gonna be that degree(+ experience in the workplace) thats going to get you places.

VoodooGamer

In other words, college offers you the opportunity to get a higher-paying job so that may spend more money and put more money back into the pockets of the wealthy upper-class. That's really all it boils down to. I fail to see the logic in spending a total of $60,000 dollars to get that "special-dream job" that I've wanted all my life, only to make $30,000 a year. Even if I make $200,000 a year, what does that matter? Money, money, money, that's not where happiness comes from, and I don't need a good degree and a high-paying job to bring me happiness. All I need is a decent paying job, which you can get even without a degree, and good people to spend my time with.

Money doesn't bring happiness inherently, but it sure helps :P

In other words, college offers you the opportunity to get a higher-paying job so that may spend more money and put more money back into the pockets of the wealthy upper-class. That's really all it boils down to. I fail to see the logic in spending a total of $60,000 dollars to get that "special-dream job" that I've wanted all my life, only to make $30,000 a year. Even if I make $200,000 a year, what does that matter? Money, money, money, that's not where happiness comes from, and I don't need a good degree and a high-paying job to bring me happiness. All I need is a decent paying job, which you can get even without a degree, and good people to spend my time with.

VoodooGamer

I prefer to view it as earning my degree will make me part of the wealthy upper-class. Plus having a MA, M.D., CRNA, RN, or whatever just sounds so cool :D

Education and Money is like Graphics in video game review. They are still important.magicalclick

I don't believe it's wise to compare a life decision to a video-game. :P Yet, I still disagree. While money is important to have a home, put food on the table, buy necessities, a bottle of wine, ect, it's not everything. In 20 years, what am I going to remember most, playing the Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion, or sitting around the kitchen table playing monopoly with my family? It's these kinds of remembrances that bring true happiness, not some crafty object that becomes dull through use.

The real question is... What in life today isn't flawed?

I don't mind the seemingly random classes (I'm past that stage anyway), but the tuition is a little.. irritating. They keep raising it every year, and it's just a smidgen under $50,000 a year at this point.Dark__Link

Education and Money is like Graphics in video game review. They are still important.magicalclick

This is something to think about!

[spoiler] No it isn't. [/spoiler]

[QUOTE="Dark__Link"]I don't mind the seemingly random classes (I'm past that stage anyway), but the tuition is a little.. irritating. They keep raising it every year, and it's just a smidgen under $50,000 a year at this point.thepwninator

[QUOTE="VoodooGamer"]

Of course the American college system is flawed. Think about it, you pay $60,000 for an education that could have been got from $300 worth of books. ;) That is the plain truth, and I ask anyone to dispute it. I've been thinking about going to college, but I cannot reconcile that much money for an "education" that I can get by going to the library for free as Ray Bradbury upon countless others have done. You don't need college to get a good education and, in fact, with diligence, you can get an even better education.

There's always the argument that you can't get a "good paying job" without having went to college first, but I contend that life is not always a reward and work, after all, is "work", guys. You can get on track for a decent paying job by applying for an apprenticeship or even by working your way up through a fast-food chain. Managers make a lot of money, and they don't need a degree.

Also, the military is a very good choice. You make $1500 a month upon entry, get free healthcare, free food, free housing, and, if you stay in for 20 years or more, you get excellent retirement. The military isn't for everyone, but it's a very good option.

_glatisant_

$60,000? seriously? In Britain it's around £3,400 a year.

[QUOTE="thepwninator"][QUOTE="Dark__Link"]I don't mind the seemingly random classes (I'm past that stage anyway), but the tuition is a little.. irritating. They keep raising it every year, and it's just a smidgen under $50,000 a year at this point.Dark__Link

Stanford was my second choice after Caltech. I'm of the opinion that, overall, it's the best university in the US (I think the Ivies are overrated, myself).